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BEAM PLUS FOR NEW B UILDINGS MATERIALS ASPECTS (M A)
V ERSION 1.2 MA 8 OZONE DEPLETING SUBSTANCES
Copyright © 2012 BEAM Society Limited. All rights reserved.
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Small air-conditioning units, defined as those containing less than 0.23
kg of refrigerant, and other equipment, such as standard refrigerators,
small water coolers and any other cooling equipment that contains less
than 0.23 kg of refrigerant, can be excluded from this assessment.
The Client shall submit a report by a suitably qualified person giving
details of the air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment installed; and
demonstrating that the global warming potential and ozone depletion
potential of the refrigerants used in equipment meets the specified
requirement. Reference shall be made to refrigerant supplies and/or
equipment manufacturer’s data together with guidance provided by
recognised authorities such as ASHRAE, CIBSE, etc.
b) Ozone depleting materials
The Client shall provide a full description and specifications of all major
thermal insulation and fire retardant materials specified in roof
constructions, walls, chilled water pipes, refrigerant pipes, ductwork, etc.,
advising the presence or otherwise of ozone depleting agents. Where
there is any doubt as to the ozone depletion potential of a material or
product, the Client shall ascertain details from the supplier. Credit will be
awarded where demonstration of reasonable effort has been made to
avoid the use of products that have significant ozone depletion potential.
BACKGROUND The Montreal Protocol has scheduled the phasing out of controlled
substances, including chemicals containing chlorine and bromine used
as refrigerants, solvents, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, fire
suppressants, and for other purposes. Ozone Layer Protection
Ordinance (Cap. 403) 1989 [1] gives effect to Hong Kong’s international
obligations to control the manufacture, import and export of ozone
depleting substances. Ozone Layer Protection (Controlled Refrigerants)
Regulation 1994 [2] requires the conservation of controlled refrigerants
used in large scale installations and motor vehicles. Ozone Layer
Protection (Products Containing Scheduled Substances) (Import
Banning) Regulation 1993 [ 3 ] prohibits the import of portable fire
extinguishers containing halons and other controlled products from a
country or place not a party to the Montreal Protocol unless the Authority
considers that it complies with the requirements of the Protocol.
Scheduled substances under the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance are
listed by the Environmental Protection Department.
In addition to having suitable thermodynamic properties, the ideal
refrigerant would be nontoxic, non-inflammable, completely stable,
environmentally benign, readily available, self-lubricating, compatible
with materials used in equipment, easy to handle and detect. No current
refrigerants are ideal. Compounds that contain no chlorine or bromine
have ozone depletion potential (ODP) nearly zero. Increasing the amount
of fluorine generally raises the global warming potential (GWP).
Hydrogen content tends to shorten the atmospheric lifetime [4].
Climate change is much more complex than ozone depletion, yet there is
wide agreement that warming is occurring. While refrigerants contribute
to global environmental concerns, the impact is comparatively small [4].
The problem is not with refrigerants inside air-conditioning systems, but
with their release. Given that ODP is largely addressed by legislation,
BEAM basis assessment of refrigerants is based on GWP.
1 Environmental Protection Department. A Concise Guide to the Ozone Layer Protection Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance.
2 Environmental Protection Department. A Concise Guide to the Ozone Layer Protection (Controlled Refrigerants)
Regulation.
3 Environmental Protection Department. Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance Scheduled Substance.
4 Calm S M. Option and Outlook for Chiller Refrigerants. International Journal of Refrigeration. Vol. 25, 2002, pp 705-715.